The fine art of cleaning: galleries get dusting ahead of reopening

Never has cleaning been such a fine art. No dust will be left to settle, with galleries in a flurry of activity as they prepare to reopen in just over a week after being closed for more than two months.

At the Art Gallery of NSW, conservators have embarked on a major dusting campaign to ensure everything is spick and span for when doors open to visitors on Monday, June 1.

Melissa Harvey dusting Sir Edward John Poynter's 1890 The visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon at the Art Gallery of NSW.Credit:Louie Douvis

And with every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. For conservation technical assistant Melissa Harvey, tasked with dusting the hundreds of frames in the gallery's Grand Courts, it is getting high with the likes of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon.

"What I do like about it is I'm often on my own. I actually get to spend time with the artwork," Ms Harvey said. "It also gives me time to look at the ornate frames and how they are structured and made. I've got a couple of little favourite works I get to spend time with."

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At 4.2 by 3.4 metres, Sir Edward John Poynter's 1890 The visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon has one of the more challenging frames to dust, requiring Harvey to employ a scissor lift. Conservators use different dusting brushes – horse hair for ornate gold gild frames, synthetic brushes to reach tight spots and a microfibre cloth for smoother frames – and a handheld vacuum to collect the output.

Head of conservation Carolyn Murphy said the coronavirus shutdown had allowed her team to move other projects forward, including going through archival material and cleaning art, but staff have kept a watchful eye to ensure works on display remain in mint condition.

"With the lights turned off and gallery closed we just want to make sure we are keeping on top of what might be happening," Ms Murphy said.

As well as its collection works, the Art Gallery of NSW will have four exhibitions on show when it reopens, including the Biennale of Sydney and director Michael Brand's new international contemporary art show Some Mysterious Process, which was installed during lockdown.

While making sure everything is in order for reopening, galleries are also finalising new protocols, including timed ticketing systems, social distance markers and disinfectant stations, as they work to meet the NSW government's health guidelines.

Over at the Museum of Contemporary Art, technicians are automating video works so gallery staff don't have to turn on televisions and sound systems or share remote controls. AV technician Beau Scott said there will be no headphones – "possibly ever again" .

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"We're working with the museum's digital team to explore new technologies that will allow video works to play audio elements through personal devices," Mr Scott said. "This sort of technology will be more considered in the post COVID-19 museum experience."

The Art Gallery of NSW will have two floors dedicated to the Biennale of Sydney, which was only open for 10 days before its exhibitions across seven venues were closed due to the coronavirus restrictions.

Biennale chief executive Barbara Moore said galleries reopening had come sooner than she expected, and the organisation was working with artists to ensure all installation works were safe for visitors.

"It's brilliant, it's absolutely brilliant. It's what the Biennale is there for, to share art with the audience," Ms Moore said. "Some of the art works may need to be changed simply to make it really inviting for people."